Looking at Red Flag 17-3 from a Marine Corps Point of View

Red Flag 17-3 is a realistic combat training exercise involving the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps and this iteration is the first to have both the Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II and the Marine Corps’ F-35B Lightning II, which is capable of short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL).

The Marines have had operational F-35s longer than the USAF and with their deployment to Japan are providing a significant input into the way ahead with a fifth generation enabled combat force.